Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1887-02-19


splendid "workin' fur the Grahams."-
The Interior.
Mrs. MarslmallOw's Views on Story.
Telling.
John, said Mrs. Marshmallow to her
husband, as she poured his second cup of
Ohm, We had a very pleasant time
last evening, didn't We? The Hornblowers
are such nice p ople that l always enjoy
visit from them"
"Um-ah, we'll" said Mr.. Marshmal1ow,
Il have no doubt you had very pleasant
time. For myself, can not say the exer-
cises of the evening were of an excruciat-
ingly mirthful character"
MOP said Mrs. Marshmallow. well, |
don't know that I should describe them in
that way. either; but you looked as though
you were enjoying Yourself"
How could l enjoy myself" retorted
Mr.. MarShmallow, when you sat there as
hilarious as the mummy at an Egyptian
feast, and as attentive as though you We're
listening 10 the haranGue of u book agent
VIII never | tried TO enliven the ceremonies
by telling story"
Il really didn't intend to display any
such lack of apprec alton of your stories,
Sar," expostulated Mrs. Marshmallow,
gently.
WELL" interrupted Mr.. Marshmallow,
IF you can succeed SO admirably without
int, nding it, certainly your success in any
line you really put your mind to ought to
be immense"
Il don't think, john retorted Mrs.
Mars hmallow, that sou ought to find fault
with my inattention. You see, | have
heard all your stories once or twice before;
and even the most mirth- provoking effort
of your genius may come, in time, by con-
slant repetition, to partake of the character
OF a-well, may grow little stale; and
besides"
Besides WHAT" interrupted Mr.. NJ. a
presume you mean to say that / do not
know how 10 tell good story. Suppose
don't. What has that got to do with old
HornbIower's bringing his wife here to see
u.s."
Nothing" said Mrs. Marshmallow, re-
t1ectiyely; only it set me to thinking that
good story-teller ought to have long
memory"
Its indispensable, assented Mr. Marsh
mailow cheerfully.
I'm glad you agree with me" pursued
Mrs. Marshmallow. For instance, that
story you told the HornblowerS last night
about that old man who, whenever he heard
that anyone was going to marry, always
said" Poor fellow, I'm sorry for him; he
never did me any HARM Well, the other
time you told them that same story"
81 never" exclaimed Mr.. Marshmallow
vigorously. Il never told those blasted
people that story before last night. YOU
you make these me IN insinuations merely to
excuse yourself for deliberately trying to
spoil the point of my stories whenever |
try to entertain our guests. It'll see
your callers further before l try to make
the pyanIpu ourpao bla for than. 7 nnvar
told Hornblowcr-"
But, John" persisted his wife, "you
certainly did tell the Hornblowers that
same story the last time we called there;
and that's not ALL"
well, what if I dido" queried Mr..
Msrsmallow. The story is true and"
Il was about to add, resumed Mrs. NJ,
when you Interrupted me, that the other
time you told it to them, you said
that the old man who got off
tho witty and original remark that
forms the point of the story was Your
uncle, the deacon; and last night, when,
IN spite OF all could do to prevent it. you
insisted upon retelIing the same story to
that unhappy man, you said that the
originator was a lazy old fisherman, who
used to lie round the village drunk three
fourths of the time. And then you both
laughed so heartily, | suppose you were
delighted with your success in amusing
him, and he laughed alto put it mildly
your want of recollection. You couldn't
expect me to be highly diverted, now, could
yod!'
DO you mean deliberately to tell me
that am confirmed liar? or what is the
exact drift of your singularly amiable re-
marks" inquired Mr.. Marshmallow.
Why only that men who tell stories
| ought to have long memories" sad Mrs.
Marshmallow, thoughtfully. And if you
wouldn't mind, dear, I'll Just say that |
saw the same story, word for word, in an
old newspaper the other day, only the To-
cality was changed. and"
Probably some fellow who heard me tell
1t wrote it to the newspaper, and changed
names and places, SO as 10 claim it as his
own. The mendacity of these newspaper
men is flightful,' promptly remarked Air.
MarShmallC".
"Oh, yes; ! suppose SO. That must be
the way of it." said Mrs. NJ, pensively
And it is really to bad of them; for it
might lead one who did not know you to
think that you took some of your stories
from the newspapers"
AS Mr.. Marshmallow made no reply, the
conversation came to all end.
An old Indian known as Ncvos died
at San Diego recently, who, the Union"
says, was l25 years old. He was raised
by the first missionaries who came to
Lower California, and was brought by
them to San Diego. lie was for many